1. Establish a bedtime routine well in advance to help your child adjust to new bedtimes and a new "school wake-up" schedule.
2. Arrange to attend Parent Orientation and Meet the Teacher opportunities. These will inform you on policies and procedures that support school success.
3. Read books about going to school and about saying goodbye. An unhurried time to read and to discuss these ideas will give you common language to refer to when the moment arrives. Some of my favorites are:
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- First Day of School by Anne Rockwell
- A Pocketful of Kisses by Audrey Penn
- David Goes to School by David Shannon
4. Select a special lunchbox or backpack for school. This gives children a reason to be excited about the first day of school.
5. Remember that separation is a process that takes time. You and your child will need time to feel comfortable with the new routines. Build some extra time in at drop off at the beginning of the school year. Feeling unhurried will help you to support your little one and to establish a goodbye routine that teaches your child what to expect next.
The teachers at the ECEC have had many experiences with the first day of school. They all have the patience and the strategies to help the transition to be a successful one. A quick nod from you and they will step in to support your child on separating from you and moving on to something fun and engaging. Before you know it, your child will be running ahead of you to the classroom door and waving goodbye as they go exploring.
